Nigeria’s health sector faces acute challenges even as innovators redefine its future.
Public financing remains well below global benchmarks: the 2024 federal budget allocated about N1.34 trillion to health just around 4.6% of the total budget far short of the 15% Abuja Declaration target.
Many states also under‑spend on health relative to their budgets, with actual execution rates lagging allocations. Out‑of‑pocket payments, though improving, still account for a majority of health spending, reaching about 58.3% in 2024, exposing households to financial hardship.
Health outcomes remain uneven: Nigeria’s under‑five mortality rate is among the world’s highest at over 100 deaths per 1,000 live births, while infant and neonatal deaths also persist at worrying levels. Maternal mortality continues to drive concern, with the country contributing a substantial share of global maternal deaths due to limited access to quality obstetric care.
Despite these systemic gaps in funding, infrastructure, and outcomes, visionary women founders are leading solutions from supply chain innovations and primary care platforms to diagnostics, health education, and community‑driven services—transforming Nigeria’s health landscape and expanding access to quality care across communities.
Clare Omatseye – FWACS, FPSN, FNAP, is a veteran healthcare entrepreneur and policy influencer with over 32 years of experience in healthcare management, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and public health reform.
She is the Founder and Managing Director of JNC International, a 19-year-old turnkey medical equipment solutions company representing 28 global manufacturers including Canon Medical, Olympus, Elekta, and Medtronic, and the Founder/Chairman of Vaccipharm Limited, a 23-year-old cold chain and pharmaceutical distribution enterprise.
Under her leadership, JNC International has completed more than 200 hospital installations nationwide, ranging from 50 to 400 beds.
A recognized voice in private healthcare development, Clare serves as President of the West African Private Healthcare Federation (FOASPS) and Vice President of the African Healthcare Federation (AHF). She is the immediate past and Pioneer President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN) and former President of the Lagos Business School Alumni Association (LBSAA).
Her professional honors include Fellowships with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, West African College of Surgeons (the only pharmacist to receive this distinction), and Aspen’s African Leadership Initiative West Africa.
She also serves as Independent Director on boards including the Development Bank of Nigeria, Beta Glass Plc, and Pan Atlantic University, contributing her expertise in governance, corporate strategy, and healthcare reform across Africa.
These healthcare juggernauts don’t get enough of their flowers. They’re doing amazing! Especially those on the services side